Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1887-06-15
CIIILDREN'S SAVINGS.
THE FIRST SCHOOL IN AMERICA
TO TEACH PRACTICAL ECONOMY.

The System of school Savings Banks az
Explained by Catherine Baldwin-How
the Pennies Are Gathered In--The Re-
suits.
The system Of school savings hanks as
explained by Catherine Baldwin in Har-
per's Bazaar is one of the most practical
and sensible schemes that have been put
forth for some time, it being really prob
able that the quality claimed for it, that
'4school banks are to the lesson in thrift
what pen, ink and paper are to the lesson
in writing is in it. No better lesson can
be taught a child in any branch than a
lesson in consequences. Children, and
for that matter children of n larger
growth, have TO be taught the conse-
quences of this, that or the other folly be-
fore they learn to shun them, and there is
no reason why teaching them the conse-
quences of wisdom should not be a lesson
equally strong A child that learns that
pennies saved mean something a great
deal better than sticks of candy and penny
ices-perhaDs whole week in the couu-
try or even goat team--is learning q
valuable lesson. The amount of money
saved may not be great, the sum may be
spent whenever it amounts to SO or SIS,
but the small capitalist is learning the
valuable lesson of the Buddhists-self
control, as well as thrift, the first object.
The first school in America to adopt
this savings bank plan did SO in 1885, the
principal, q woman, too, by the way, re-
cognizing how great power lay behind
so apparently simple beginning. Out
of 400 scholars 403 are depositors, and
they saved from March, 1885, to January,
of 10 oh
child. On Jan I, 1887 seven schools in
the United States adopted savings banks,
n small beginning when compared TO the
number of the same organizations in
Europe, it is true, but a beginning never
theless. France, the only country with a
national system, has, Miss Baldwin says,
"a, 600 of these banks, whose savings
amounted to nearly So, 100000.
A SCHOOL BANKS METHODS
The modus operandi of school bank is
as follows, told in our authority's own
words:
'Having arranged with some savings
bank to receive deposits, the principal of q
school gives notice to the several classes
that every Monday morning their teacher,
when calling the roll, will receive their
small savings from one cent up to fifty
centsl On making the first deposit a
pupil is given card with his or her
name, date and amount deposited. re-
ceipted lay the teacher; this card the pupil
keeps, presenting it every time a deposit
is made, the card having dates for the
whole school year.
''After the first few collections when,
like any other new drill, children are awK.
ward, fifteen minutes is sufficient to re-.
ceiye a class of fifty The teacher ap-
20
takes the card and money from each child
and hands it to the teacher, who counts
the money, receipts the card and returns
it to the scholar. The ordinary roll book
serves as a record book. For instance, a
name is called-'Jane Smith She makes
answer, Three cents, and three cents is
entered in the savings column opposite
Jane Smiths name. If nothing has been
| saved q cross so indicates, and merely
attendance is marked. The principal,
who is the de facto treasurer, requires n
| special book for names of depositors and
amounts saved, as the savings of all
classes are handed to him, and he sends
them each day to the savings bank get
ting a receipt for the whole amount.
When a pupil has saved twenty-five cents
Tor any other sum agreed ON he is given a
bank book and becomes q regular con-
tributor-although interest is rarely paid
on very small sums-and until he receives
a book his name does not 20 on the
| journal Of the savings bank, but his
savings are kept to the credit of the prin-
cipal in what is called a general fund ,
These pupil bank books kept by the prin-
cipal are sent to the bank monthly to be
balanced. They can be taken home at
regular dates to be shown to parents; and
| during vacation, or when pupil leaves,
| he receives his book Money can be
| drawn out at any time, with the consent of
| parents or guardians, by procuring the
| principals signature After leaving
school permanently scholar can still
continue to use the school blank book for
other savings
THE INFIIrENcE or pAprs